In the Groove

Summer time has arrived! Time to scrap days at the beach, long afternoons on the porch, summer hikes, games and other adventures! To get you all inspired, we’ve kicked off this issue with Kimmyann’s Day at the Park. Love those summery, watermelon-like colors that evoke the tastes of summer!

You’ll also find a scrapper profile focusing on Scrapbook MAX! designer extraordinaire Fiona Storey. Fiona’s giving away a summer freebie, too along with a fun challenge. You’ll also find a discount on featured kits, and more layouts to inspire your summer scrapping!

ONE MORE THING! There’s a HUGE summer sale going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store! Read on to see how you can save a whopping 20% off your orders this month!

HUGE SUMMER SALE ON DIGITAL KITS!

From now until July 31, 2012 you can get 20% off on orders of $10 or more in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store. Choosing from any of the kits and templates in our store, simply add at least $10 worth of products to your cart, and type in the code SUMMER exactly as shown in the coupon code box before completing your order. This is a great time to stock up on kits for all your summer scrapbook projects!

Note: Offer applies only to digital kits and templates sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Digital Scrapbooking Kits and Templates Store, on orders of $10 or more. Coupon code must be typed in before checking out. Valid on new orders only, expires July 31, 2012.

Scrapbook MAX! Designer Profile

Meet Fiona Storey, a Scrapbook MAX! Digital Kit Designer, frequent challenge host, and an inspiring and helpful force in the Scrapbook MAX! community since the year it all began, in 2006! Get to know a bit more about Fiona and what inspires her to dream and create her signature designs. Fiona has also picked a few layouts of YOURS that she thought deserved the spotlight. And, she’s sharing a fun-in-the-summertime freebie and challenge with you! Thanks for sharing, Fiona!

Fiona Storey

I have only been designing since 2006. It all came about by accident, but then the best things always do! I was looking for a way to re-size my embellishments to fit on the handcrafted card I was designing, found Scrapbook MAX!and with hours I was totally hooked!
My designs have changed so much over the years, but I can not say I actually have a ‘style’ as such. I see a photo, an embellishment or more often than not a page that someone has scrapped and I go from there. My head is constantly buzzing with new ideas (most I never get around to making!)
My favourite scrapbook styles are vintage and romantic looking. I love flowers, lace, ribbons, bows and pearls, anything pretty and cute too!
My favourite all time designer is Silvia Romeo. I spend hours trying to design like her. She definitely challenges me to make new items and look at things in a different way. She really does the vintage look perfectly!
Currently I have several projects on the go (confused chaos works for me lol). I am working on a kit for the guys, a vintage kit, and I have something in the pipeline which is bright and cheerful. Diversity is always fun!

Some of Fiona’s favourite pages by other Scrapbook MAX!-ers

This one is by Eye (Irene) – I love her style. She takes a kit and totally transforms it into her own unique style. She has given me so many great ideas for embellishments over the years just by the way she can think outside the box.

Granmas Roses

This is by Marion. I just love her sense of humour. She can tell a complete story on her pages with little effort.

Pisa

Finally, there’s this one by Lindaathome. She is a scrapping machine! I love the diversity of her pages. Every single one is well thought out and balanced.

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge

Save on Featured Scrapbooking Kits

This is your chance to get a few of our profiled designer Fiona Storey’s favorite kits at a great discounted price! Four of Fiona’s kits (pictured below) will be featured in our store all month long, and you can get them for 20% off! All you need to do is go to the Featured Content section, add $10 worth of kits to your cart and type in the coupon code SUMMER (mix and match featured kits and anything else in the store for your $10 order!).

Offer expires July 31, 2012 – full details above!

Island Cruise

Tea For Two

Garden Dreams

Sunshine and Showers

July 2012 Challenges

There’s always something going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Challenges and Contests Forum! Here’s what to keep your eyes open for:

In The Groove

What can be more fun than a birthday party! This month, we’re celebrating fun, festive, and fabulous birthday layouts. Whether you’re an August or February baby, you’re invited!

To kick off the party, check out kimbob’s bright, funky birthday layout above! Doesn’t it make you smile? Get inspired by this design and all the others as you enjoy this month’s issue.

We’ve also included your favorites – freebies, a challenge, a scrapper profile, a digital kit store discount, and an AWESOME deal on PhotoSpark digital photo album software!! Read below for the full scoop.

Fun and FUNNY!

It’s a birthday – is it any surprise that things may start to get a little wacky? We love these two layouts for the laughs that they’ve captured forever. The facial expression in Pickngrin’s layout is priceless (this superman cutie apparently didn’t want anything spoiling his heroic cake – including candles!). And Michelle, Michelle – you sure know how to have fun! Great layouts that will make even a non-birthday day all right!

pickngrin – You Lit My Cake On Fire Layout

Michelle McCoy – Party Time Layout

One Week Only!: Get PhotoSpark

Software for only $15

From the makers of Scrapbook MAX!, PhotoSpark is a complete digital album kit for Windows, perfect for anyone who loves getting creative with their photos. You can even use PhotoSpark‘s content in Scrapbook MAX! - a great way to expand your kit collection (details below).

For one week only, get PhotoSpark for only $15 – that’s an awesome $24.95 off the regular price! But you have to hurry – this offer is only good until August 7, 2009!

(HURRY! expires August 7, 2009)

PhotoSpark comes with everything you need to make impressive albums with your digital photos. Includes professionally designed album themes and page layouts, hundreds of photo-realistic clipart images and patterns, caption and journal text features, and more.

Perfect for the person on your list who loves getting creative with their photos, including yourself!

Offer is good only on PhotoSpark software using the link given in this offer. Prices are in US dollars and do not included shipping and handling. Offer is good on new orders only and cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Expires August 7, 2009.

Scrapper Profile

Meet Marshalynn, a friendly, fun scrapper and fan of Scrapbook MAX!. Get to know more about her!

Q - If we asked your friends to describe you, what would they say?A – “With Marsha, what you see is what you get, her family is most important to her above all else. She knows when to be funny and laugh and when to be serious and get the job done”.Q – How did you find out about Scrapbook MAX!?
A – A video on Youtube.

Q- Besides scrapbooking, what do you do for fun?
A – Photography, Cross Stitching, Cooking, Decorating, Shopping and movie nights with the kids.

Q- Who are the most special people in your life. Why?
A- My husband Rusty, most amazing man I have ever known. My girls…Staci, Katie & Meagan…they are little mini-me’s!

Q- Where do you find inspiration for your layouts?A- The love of my family. Colors and shapes reminds me of people so I try to match them together. Example…my Mother loved lavendar and flowers, so she gets a floral and lavendar layout.

Q- Do you have a signature color scheme or type of embellishment that you love to use?
A- I LOVE pinks…florals, ribbons, butterflies, lace and buttons and brads!

Q- What’s your next scrapbook project?
A - 100+ pictures from July 4th Family BBQ and then 167+ pics taken today, spent the day in downtown Dallas with my daughter…I’m SO behind!

Q- What is your favorite feature in Scrapbook MAX!?

A- The ability to purchase the beautiful work of the pros and have it expand my library!

Q – If you could be a celebrity for one day, who would you be and why?
A- Hard question…I would have to say Oprah Winfrey. She has the finances and ability to help so many people who seriously need a hand up in this world. If I were her, I would start with the homeless, the hungry and the sick children in the United States – we need help here at home too.

Thanks, Marsalynn! Here are some of her lovely layouts shared in the Scrapbook MAX! forums:

The Groove Monthly Freebie

Challenge!

featuring a birthday-themed mini-kit by Steve Russell

The Freebie Part

This month, Steve Russell is sharing this fun, festive freebie set with you –perfect for any birthday bash. Find the freebies in our Groove Monthly Freebie thread!

The Challenge Part

Here’s the challenge:

Download the freebie kit. Using at least three of the elements, create a birthday layout with your favorite birthday pics!

August 2009 “Featured Kits”

Love Steve’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for kits with a similar style?

Below are August’s four featured kits, all by Steve Russell. Be sure to use the coupon code IRE-AUG, to get 10% off your purchase. Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart until August 31, 2009, and type in the coupon code IRE-AUG to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code IRE-AUG exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Great new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store each month. Be sure to stop by and check out our awesome selection of embellishment kits and template sets, professionally-designed to work with Scrapbook MAX!.

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.

In The Groove

In May and June, our thoughts turn to Mothers and Fathers. In the next two issues, we’re celebrating parenthood and family with great layouts of beloved children and dear parents, grandparents, and other loved ones.

From old-fashioned, to funky, to fabulous, we hope you enjoy these family-friendly layouts, and get inspired to create your own special keepsakes.

As always, look for a great freebie and challenge – this month by Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store Designer Wendy Gibson (it’s a Mother’s Day theme!), a terrific discount, and other fun scrapbooking stuff!

Family Foundations

Here at The Groove, we love highlighting layouts that have a vintage quality. The digital age breathes new life into our cherished family photos. Scan them, lay them out, and dress them up with great embellishments to display them with pride as mh51 has done. We love the look so much, that even newer photos can be given that vintage age with the right elements – (love the look, angelwithin!)

mh51- vintage photo layout

angelwithin – anniversary layout

Scrapper Profile

Terri Pittman a.k.a. “pickngrin”

Meet Terri, a.k.a. “pickngrin”, a talented scrapper and great friend of the Scrapbook MAX! community. Get to know her better below, and check out some of her awesome layouts!

Q- You have one word to describe yourself – go for it! (You can explain why you picked that word, if you wish!)
Imaginative. My brain is on high gear at most all times thinking about how things would look together or how to make something out of nothing.

Q-What got you interested in digital scrapbooking?
Honestly, the main reason is because I am too big a slob to keep paper scrapping supplies organized. Also because it is cheaper and a whole lot more fun and flexible.

Q- What are your non-scrapbooking hobbies?
Well I went to school for photography so that is my main hobby. I love going out in the boat and hanging out with my family. I also like to play computer games, like Nancy Drew mysteries and the
tycoon games. I also love to read books from authors such as Fannie Flagg, Alice Ross, Phillip Gulley and I love the Harry Potter series. I LOVE LOVE LOVE going anywhere that has roller coasters (the bigger, steeper and faster, the better)

Q-Who are the most common “subjects” of your scrapbook pages and why?
My son Cameron is who I scrap the most. It is really over-whelming how many photos I have of him. Although it is sad to say that even though he is now six years old, I have never finished his one year book. I also love to scrap family and clients that I have done photo shoots for.

Q-Where do you find the inspiration for your layouts?
Sometimes it is the photo, sometimes the kit I may be working with. I also find tons and tons of inspiration from seeing other people’s layouts. Or if I have scrappers’ block, I like to look at magazine ad’s for different products or companies and sort of scrap lift advertisements. Martha Stewart ads are always a good place to start for that. Then there are the monthly and weekly challenges here at Scrapbok MAX! -they always inspire something new that I may not have thought of.

Q- In one sentence, tell us what you think is the best feature of Scrapbook MAX!.
That would have to be the paper shape option.

Q-Do you have any helpful digital scrapbooking tips and tricks that you can share?
Wow that is a hard one. I guess it would be to tell people to practice their photography skills. Try to get the sharpest, most colorful pictures when snapping your camera. I have seen some layouts that are kinda blah but pictures are amazing, in turn making the whole page sparkle. Also trying different layout styles. Sometimes I love making full blown layouts while other times I love negative space layouts.

Q- What’s your next scrapbook project?
Like I said, I am still working on my son’s first year of life book. Then I will do his 2nd year and so on to try to get caught up with how fast he is growing. It is just kind of hard finding little boy stuff that fits him, which is almost impossible. He isn’t into trucks, bugs, action-heroes, sports or dinosaurs. So along with making his books I am trying to create papers and elements for his books.

Q- Name your two favorite movies.
Seriously? Only two? Wow……To Kill a Mockingbird has to be up there and if you base what I have seen the most times, it would have to be You’ve Got Mail, I watch that everytime I am sick, sad or alone in a quiet house with no boys (husband or son) wanting to drill or hammer something.

Check out some of Terri’s favorite layouts:

Cherished Children

We asked designers from the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store to submit inspiring layouts featuring special kids in their own lives. We love how the steely grays set off the gorgeous nature photos in Esther’s “Brandon” layout. And Diana’s cool blues and craft paper embellishments give her family layout a ton of charm. Thanks to Esther Barry and Diana Carmichael for sharing this month!

Groove-y Congratulations!

Below is a special layout by Marnie, co-Editor of The Groove and new mom! Aren’t these amazingly adorable photos of her baby daughter’s first easter? Congratulations, Marnie – have a happy “first Mother’s Day”!

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge!

Get this great Mother’s Day themed freebie from Wendy Gibson, and participate in the challenge (details below)!

The Freebie Part

The Challenge Part

Here’s Wendy’s challenge:

“ Mum’s The Word …so let’s celebrate mom in style! My challenge for May is for all scrapbookers to create a scrapbook page all about Mom! Without our moms we wouldn’t be who we are today! Showcase all the love you feel for your mom using some or all of the freebies I’ve created just for you! Or, if you are are Mom, make a page about yourself as a mother, you deserve to be celebrated too!”

Thanks, Wendy! Below is a layout that Wendy made using her freebie to show you some scrapbooking possibilities:

May 2009 “Featured Kits”

Love Wendy’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for kits with a similar style?

Below are May’s four featured kits, all by Wendy Gibson. Be sure to use the coupon code WEN-MAY, to get 10% off your purchase. Simply add any of the four Featured Kits to your cart until May 31, 2009, and type in the coupon code WEN-MAY to receive your 10% off discount (be sure to type in the code WEN-MAY exactly as shown. Applies to new orders only).

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Many new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store each month. Be sure to stop by and check out our awesome selection of embellishment kits and template sets, professionally-designed to work with Scrapbook MAX!.

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.

In the Groove

Want to make your photos “pop”? A great technique is to limit the color palette of your layout. It’s an awesome way to highlight a photo, or even a certain part of a photo! In this issue, you’ll find inspiring layouts that generally revolve around two colors or tones in their design strategy. Whether you choose two neutral tones, two completely contrasting colors, or two colors in the same color family, your two-toned layouts are sure to get some attention!

Below you’ll also find a fab Scrapper Profile, a fun freebie and challenge by Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store Designer Diana Carmichael. And guess what? There’s an AMAZING **spring sale** going on in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store. Below, you’ll find a special coupon code for an awesome 20% off all digital kits and templates in the store – get all the exciting details below!

ENJOY!

Let Your Photo Guide you!

Want to create a two-tone layout but not sure which two tones to use? Look no further than your photo! The green and pink colors in the children’s outfits provided a theme for the background and embellishments selected by crunchymountainmomma (love that forum member name!). And MaggieMae wisely chose to keep the focus on this gorgeous lion by using a tone similar to the lion’s mane in her page (contrasted with a rich, natural green.) Lovely!

My Sister, My Friend Layout by crunchymountainmomma

A Day At the Zoo Layout by MaggieMae

Neutral Territory

You don’t have to pull out the color wheel and go for bright, high-contrast in a two-toned layout. Neutrals work just as effectively! We love the subtle touch of pickngrin’s page – and what a great set of photos!

Hitch Your Wagon to a Star Layout – pickngrin

Scrapper Profile

Carol, a.k.a. “crops2dawn”

Meet Carol, a.k.a. crops2dawn, a long-time friend of the Scrapbook MAX! Online Community! Carol is known in the forums for her talent for scrapping, sense of humor, and helpful nature. Get to know more about her in the following Scrapper Profile!

Q- If you were an animal, what would you be? Why?

If I could be any animal it would have to be a bird, so I could fly all over the world to meet the fascinating people I’ve found in the digiworld.

Q- How long have you been digital scrapbooking and what got you started?

I have been addicted to digital scrappin’ for almost 3 years now. I used to do it the old fashion way, and I did love doing that, I subscribed to a magazine that came with a CD and one of the parts, was a 30 day trial for SBM, I was hooked on day one!Q- What are your non-scrapbooking hobbies?

Photography is one of my newest hobbies. My DH bought me a Canon Rebel last year and I love taking photos, I just have to keep practicing. Other than that, I love stamping, card making, cooking and camping.

Q- Tell us about your family.

I am married to Dennis for almost 22 years, We have a daughter Heather who is 20, and another daughter, Amber who is 16, they both know everything at the moment, and we are just here to annoy them. LOL I have 2 golden retrievers, Shelby and KC. I also have 4 sisters and 1 brother, my dad passed away when I was 20, and my mom passed away when I was 30.

Q- There’s a blank screen in front of you. How do you begin your layout?

That’s a tough one, it all depends what kind of mood I am in. I would have to say I mostly start with a photo, playing with effects is so much fun.

Q- What is the best part about using Scrapbook MAX!?

It is so easy to use! When I first started digiscrappin’ I had no idea what I was doing, I never belonged to a forum before either, and since day one, when I introduced myself, the people were amazing! They helped me with so much. Now, it’s my turn to give back to the community that has given me much more than they realized, I’ve made life-long friendship, and that is something I will always treasure, oops, I am getting mushy! LOL

Q- How did you get that cool forum member name?

Like I said before, I used to scrap the old way, one night I decided to have a Crop til Dawn party, we all got in our jams and scrapped all night, but two weeks later I found SBM, I needed to come up with a name so while looking around my scrap room, I glanced over at the invitations that I made for the party, WALA … crops2dawn was born…lolQ- Describe your favorite time of year.

My favorite time of year would have to be Autumn, the cool crisp air, the leaves falling in an array of wonderful colors. Also a great time to take photos.

Thanks, Carol!

Checkout some of Carol’s favorite layouts below:

All In The Color Family

Makeyesup did a great job of working with tones in a single color family (pink tones). We think that this choice somehow lends further texture and depth to a page. Pick your favorite color in a couple of shades, and try it out!

Sweet Sisters Layout by makeyesup

The Groove Monthly Freebie Challenge!

Get Diana’s “Happy” freebie and participate in a great challenge – see how below! (coordinates with Diana’s “Happy Kit”, one of this month’s featured kits)

The Freebie Part

This month, Diana Carmichael is sharing this bright, fun freebie set with you – how cool is that! Find the freebies in our Groove Monthly Freebie thread!

The Challenge Part

Here’s Diana’s challenge:

“What Makes You Happy?” Using items (any or all) from the freebie kit, make a page that describes what makes YOU happy. This is wide open for subject matter and size/type of layout – so go for it! Tell us what makes you HAPPY! Upload your layout(s) to the members’ gallery and link them in this thread for all to see and admire! AND! — be sure to check back every few days throughout the month as I will be adding MORE FREEBIES now and then for you to add to your collection!

(WOW! What a great BONUS, Diana! Readers – be sure to check in often throughout the month to get your freebies!)

April 2009 “Featured Kits”

Love Diana’s freebie mini-kit? Looking for kits with a similar style?

Below are April’s five featured kits, all by Diana Carmichael. Be sure to use the coupon code SPRINGSALE, to get 20% off your purchase (more details on this offer below!).

**Spring Sale** in the

Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store

Spring has sprung, and so has a great sale in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store (our Groove Readers are the first to hear!)! Now until April 30, 2009, you can save 20% off any digital kit or template sold in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store when you spend $10 or more!

Just go to http://www.scrapbookmax.com/digital-scrapbooking-kits/ add your favorite kits and templates to your cart, and enter the coupon code SPRINGSALE in the coupon code field. You MUST enter the code SPRINGSALE exactly as shown to get your discount. It’s a great time to stock up on digi kits and templates for all of your digi scrapping projects. Hurry – sale ends April 30, 2009!

Sale applies to new orders only. Applies only to purchases made in the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store. Coupon code SPRINGSALE must be entered at the time of purchase. Cannot be combined with any other discounts or offers. Offer ends April 30, 2009.

“Pop” Goes the Photo!

omajo knows that when you want to make a smiley-faced picture shine, go for the bold! We love the striking contrast of dark brown and bright blue. Fun, retro, and happy-happy (like the adorable face in the middle!)

Matthew Layout by omajo

Booster Pack Store:

New Releases

Many new kits are added to the Scrapbook MAX! Booster Pack Store each month. Be sure to stop by and check out our awesome selection of embellishment kits and template sets, professionally-designed to work with Scrapbook MAX!. (Plus, all April, don’t forget to use the coupon code SPRINGSALE at checkout to get 20% off your purchase - details on this offer described above!)

Below is a small sample of some of new kits recently added to the store by various designers.